Heavy Metal on Metal

On July 8, the Royal Mint unveiled the latest addition to its Music Legends series—a commemorative honoring the 50th anniversary of the iconic British heavy metal band, Iron Maiden. The band worked closely with the Royal Mint to design the coin. 

Contemporary Iron Maiden artist Albert “Akirant” Quirantes crafted the reverse. “As a lifelong fan of the band, and Derek Riggs’ original creations in the ’80s, I wanted to capture not just their iconic imagery, but also the rebellious spirit that has defined their music for decades,” says Quirantes. The colorful reverse features Eddie, the band’s mascot, posed against a background packed with “Easter eggs”  referencing the band’s career, albums, and world tours that die-hard fans can hunt for. Additionally, the band’s name and founding year appear above the design. This is the first time Iron Maiden has appeared on a coin, and it’s the first collectible with the band’s 50th anniversary logo. “Iron Maiden have been fearless pioneers in music, flying the flag for Britain around the globe for half a century,” says Rebecca Morgan, the director of commemorative coins at the Royal Mint. “This coin is the perfect fusion of metal on metal…we expect it will prove to be a collector’s piece that’s highly sought after by both numismatists and passionate rock fans alike.”

The coin is available in gold proof, silver proof, brilliant-uncirculated, and color versions from the Royal Mint’s website. Previous honorees of the Royal Mint’s Music Legends series also include Queen, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Elton John, George Michael, and David Bowie.  

A version of this article appears in the September 2025 issue of The Numismatist (money.org).